Reverend William Jackson’s Involvement in a Fugitive Slave Hearing

From 1850 to 1854 freedom seekers, then called “fugitive slaves,” had their freedom put on trial in Independence Hall when the city leased part of the building to the federal government. The second floor housed a federal courtroom, jury room, clerk's office, and U.S. Marshal's office. There Rev. William Jackson would have witnessed the "fugitive slave" hearings take place in the courtroom and possibly see accused fugitives awaiting their hearings, often for days, detained in the marshal's office

Courtesy of Valerie Craigwell White.

Title: Reverend William Jackson's Involvement in a Fugitive Slave Hearing
Date: 1850
Location: Independence Hall
Object Information: Photograph, daguerrotype or tintype
Repository: New Bedford Massachusetts Historical Society biography.

Description:
Reverend William Jackson of Oak Street Baptist Church (now Monumental Baptist Church at 41^st Street and Ludlow Street) led a daring rescue at the birthplace of the nation in 1850. Jackson heard that "slave-catchers" had apprehended one of his parishioners, William Taylor, and detained him in Independence Hall. The Reverend led community members on a mission to rescue him. After freeing Taylor, Jackson and the group dressed Taylor in women's clothing and used their contacts to smuggle him out of the city. For his role in freeing a man, Jackson was arrested and charged with kidnapping. Jackson later received a letter informing him that Taylor had reached Canada - and freedom.